Follow these tips on dealing with your HVAC system.
Before you call someone to help you fix your system, be sure to know what sort of system you have in place. Look for the maintenance history and brand and model. This will help make sure that the contractor you hire has all the necessary information.
Know the name and type of your HVAC system before calling someone to fix it. This will enable you to give your contractor asks for this information.
If you’ve been having trouble with an HVAC system, check out each room in your house before calling for assistance. This will help the contractor determine what the problem is and how to fix it.
When selecting the spot to put the outdoor compressor for your unit, choose somewhere that gets plenty of shade. If the unit is taking in cooler air, the efficiency will be boosted since it will not need to work as hard.
Know what you want done before you select an HVAC contractor. It will be hard for a contractor to give you a price estimate on the phone if they have not seen your current system. It will be more hard if you over the phone without the information readily available.
Clean any debris on an external condenser unit. You don’t know when things are going to pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can ruin your system. It could overheat and cause your system to malfunction by overheating.
To cut energy costs, you should service your cooling and heating system once a year at least. During your service visit, the serviceman will inspect the unit’s motor, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. These few simple things will help your system to run at its peak performance.
Turn it off so nothing moves.Next, pop the grill off, pull out the blades and start cleaning them and the unit itself off gently.
Grass Clippings
Do not let your house get dangerously hot. Air conditioners can cool a home by just twenty degrees in a short time. So, if you house heats up to about 95, you won’t see the temperature go below 75 for a while. Depending on how humid the environment is, that is not a healthy temperature for the human body when it rests during sleep.
Don’t let grass clippings pile up against your outside unit. Aim your grass clippings in a direction away from your unit. This also applies when you are taking care of the leaves in the yard.
Lubricate your condenser once each year. These ports are usually covered by a rubber or metal caps. Use SAE 20 oil that is non-detergent and lightweight, and put 10 drops or fewer in each port, putting 10 drops in each port.
Use online AC sizing calculators to figure out what size unit you need. If you buy something too large it won’t be efficient as it cools the same. Use the manual to determine what size is right for you.
Have the HVAC serviced twice per year. This should be checked often for debris and the spring.
Look for air conditioner sizing calculators online to help you determine the size of unit is necessary for your room or home. Look at the manual or on the recommended size for this information.
A radiant barrier is something that you may want to consider. It blocks outside heat from coming in which will make sure you won’t have to use more energy to keep your home cool when it’s hot outside. If you install the unit properly, you can even begin to use the attic as a bedroom as it will be so comfortable!
Ask friends and trust for their HVAC contractor recommendations. People who’ve had great work done in the past generally love to share the information they know about it. This is also help you learn the names of those companies that should be avoided.
There are plenty of great sites out there that let customers talk about the service they received. This is an excellent method of finding people that you are interested in dealing with as well as those that you don’t.
If there’s a clicking in your HVAC unit, check for any sort of obstructions immediately. Sometimes there is debris that gets in the fan’s way. You can solve the issue by removing debris. Look at this prior to calling a technician.
Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure that you acquire multiple estimates. You will be likely to save some cash simply by doing your homework. You may want to call at least a handful of contractors in order to know what you should be paying.
Make certain they have tight seals to keep air can’t seep in.You can hire a professional.
Be sure to replace your HVAC air filters every month. It’s a simple thing to do to keep it running properly. Filters only cost a few bucks, and it’s a small price to pay.
Measure the living area that needs cooling before buying a unit. You will need about 20 BTU per square foot in the room. If you have a lot of rooms to keep cool, make sure to add the square footage together.
Always request references when you are considering a contractor.
It may be tempting to hire the first HVAC company in the phone book, but it’s important to get references from them. This will show you their overall experience. This will allow you to stay away from people that will scam you, but only if you’re calling references.
Some contractors will attempt to charge you after the work is complete for fuel or extra material. Having a written contract will let you avoid issues like this.
Cover your condenser in the weather becomes less than optimal. This can help it to last longer when it is not in use. Use the fan setting only to avoid straining the condenser unit.
Make sure you know about the cost of HVAC work when getting a contractor to work on it. Some contractors will attempt to overcharge you on material fees and other charges. Contracts will avoid these issues.
Always check out any references that are given to you by a prospective HVAC contractor.
This calculation will ascertain what the best sized unit for your home or business.
When seeking an HVAC contractor, be sure to check references. You might be shocked at what you find. Calling a reference only takes a few minutes and can save you a lot of time and trouble hiring the wrong company.
Hvac System
Keeping your home comfortable relies on having a great HVAC system. Without proper maintenance, you will not feel comfortable in your home. Remember these hints to keep your HVAC system operating at it’s maximum efficiency.
To keep some money saved, get a unit that’s Energy Star certified. Energy Star units must meet certain guidelines. These guidelines are federally set. The EPA is who governs Energy Star guidelines. If you take the time to research these units, you can save lots of money on energy.